Tunnel liner



Patentecl Apr. 13, 1 937 UNITED STATES TUNNEL LINER,

Arthur E. Wilkofi, Niles, Ohio, assignor to Youngstown Steel CarCorporation, a corporation of Ohio Application April 23, 1934, SerialNo. 721,979

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to tunnel liner plates, particularlyplates of wrought or other metal adapted to be assembled in tubular formfor the lining of tunnels and the like, and the invention aims generallyto improve the construction of existing tunnels.

In the construction of tunnels it is customary to line the tunnelopening with metal plates so as to support the earth around the tunnelopening. These plates preferably are of general reetangular shape, andare formed with marginal side and end flanges by means of which theliner sections or segments may be bolted together to provide asubstantially continuous lining.

Tunnel liner sections or segments, ,as customarily used, are quiteheavy, being pressed from sheet steel of A or greater thickness, andusually it requires the service of two men in placing a liner section inposition and bolting it fast to the previously assembled construction.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to improve theconstruction of tunnel liners so that one man may readily andconveniently lift them in place and bolt them to the adjacent assembledsections.

Illustrative of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanyingdrawing in which Fig. 1 is a fragmental cross-section view of a sectionof tunnel lining, and illustrating the manner of using my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one form of tunnel liner embodying myinvention; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view of an assembly of a plurality of liner plates.

The lining of tunnels and the like is customarily accomplished byspacing a plurality of arch ribs ill at spaced intervals along thetunnel opening and bridging the space between the ribs lil with linerplates l I. Advantageously the arch ribs are of I-beams or otherstructural shapes and are curved, as shown to conform generally to thecross-sectional shape of the tunnel opening.

The tunnel liner plates or segments are advantageously of generalrectangular form and are provided with marginal side and end flangesl2--l3 provided with bolt holes [4. The Webof the arch rib is likewiseprovided with bolt holes l5, the spacings of which coincide with thespacing of holes in the side flanges of the liner plates so that theliners may readily be bolted in an assembled relation with the archribs.

The assembling of the liner plates begins at one lower side andprogresses upwardly to an overhead position. Particularly in thisoverhead position, the services of two men are required, one to hold theliner plate in place until the other has inserted a sufficient number ofbelts or fastenings to keep the plate in place.

According to my invention, I provide one or more supporting means on theliner plates, having a portion thereof extending substantially beyondthe marginal side or end flange of'the liner and adapted to be insertedover or back of the previously assembled plate, by means of which theliner plate is supported at one end, so that a single workman mayreadily raise the liner plate into position with one hand, and with theother hand insert two or three bolts between the marginal side flangesand arch rib or other assembled structure. After the operator hasinserted one or two bolts, through the bolt holes M, the liner will besufficiently held in place that further support from the workman isunnecessary.

The invention in its simplest form may comprise one or more pieces offlat metal it, such as steel, welded or otherwise attached as at I! tothe upper surfaces of the liner so that a substantial portion of thesupport projects laterally beyond the end flange of the liner as isshown in Fig. 2. Or the liners may be formed with bolts l8 welded orotherwise attached to one end of the flange and projecting laterallybeyond the flange (as in Fig. 3) and adapted to be inserted in alignedbolt holes M in the end flange of an adjacent section.

In the use of tunnel liners it is desirable that means be provided toclose the openings between corners of adjacent liners when assembled. Ithas heretofore been proposed to fabricate the liner with relativelysharp corners so as to minimize, as much as possible, seepage of loosesand through the openings, but such fabrication is expensive and onlypartially satisfactory. According to my invention, I prefer to constructthe supports I 6 of flat steel plates, welded to the upper surface ofthe liner at opposite corners of one end, so that the supports not onlyact as a support for the liner section during assembly as abovedescribed, but also adequately cover up any corner openings that existbetween rounded corners [9 of adjacent liner sections. This permitsconstructing the liner section with corners I 9 between the flanges oflarger radii, as for example, a corner radii of one half inch to oneinch, thus eliminating many problems in the manufacture of the liner.

The present application is a continuation in part of the subject-matterof my prior application of December 2, 1933, Serial No. 700,711, nowPatent No. 1,980,963, granted November 13, 1934.

Having described one preferred embodiment of 5 the invention, I claim:

1, A tunnel lining comprising a staggered assemblage of pressed metalliner plates, each having a skin portion and continuous upstanding sideand end flanges substantially of uniform thickness, 10 the corners ofsaid flanges at their juncture being relieved providing openings betweenadjacent plates, connecting means extending through adjacent flanges ofadjoining plates to hold said plates together in assembled relation, aclosure 15 plate for said openings having a portion welded to said plateand having a part projecting laterally beyond said relieved corners.

2. A tunnel lining comprising a plurality of pressed metal tunnel linerplates, each having a 20 skin portion and continuous upstanding side andend flanges substantially of uniform thickness, the corners of saidflanges at their juncture being relieved providing openings betweenadjoining plates, connecting means extending through adjacent flanges ofadjoining plates to hold said plates together in assembled relation, andclosure means for each of said openings comprising a member secured tosaid plates and extending beyond said relieved corners to prevent theseepage of material therethrough.

3. A tunnel lining comprising an assemblage of at least threerectangular liner plates assembled in staggered relation so that theends of two longitudinally disposed plates are adjacent to a side flangeof the third plate, said plates having relieved corners providing asubstantially triangular shaped opening at the juncture of said threeplates, means connecting the adjoining portions of each two adjacentplates to hold said plates together in assembled staggered relation, andmeans fastened to the surface of at least one of said plates andcovering the opening formed at their juncture to prevent seepage ofmaterial through said lining.

ARTHUR E. WILKOFF.

